The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1887-12-15

felt his he2rt tnfOD Win raplQ beats.
A burst of applause rose up from
the audience, with one accord, as she
curtsied low at the end of her brilliant
pas seul, and among the shower of
flowers which fell all around her on
the stage, wreath of white rosebuds
tied with snowy ribbon was the pref
tiest of all.
A pretty little actress, who stood
leaning against the wing waiting for
her part to begin, ran forward and
placed it, like a crown, on Geraldine's
sunny hair, and at the moment sec
! ond burst of applause rose from the
crowded house.
Ten minutes later, when Jonas came
behind the scenes to escort his wife
home-for Geraldine only danced the
one pas to-night-he glanced care
lessly at the floral trophies that were
heaped in basket, ready to be car
ried to the little second floor lodging
where Mrs. Cleve brightened her
rooms with the favorite blossoms.
who threw that wreath?' he asked,
with a sudden impulse of curiosity, as
he saw it lying or the top.
Geraldine did not answer; she was
busy tying on her veil. Jonas picked
it up and examined the card fastened
to it.
Duncan Middieworth."
As quick as lightning the young hus-
band tore the wreath in twain, threw
it on the floor, and set his heel on it.
'Jonas!" Geraldine cried, half
angry, half frightened.
~ told YOU | would have no more of
such nonsense" he said in voice al
most suffocated with rage. ''If you
ever accept SO much as bud that
comes from his hand again-"
well, what thenP" she said def
antly.
But his whole voice and manner had
changed;
Are you ready to go homeP" he
asked quietly. Because it is growing
late"
But Geraldine could not forget the
white heat of anger that had blazed in
his brief glance.
''tt's too absurd" she thought. 81
will not give way to his unreasoning
Jealousy"
Mr. Duncan Middleworth sat in
proscenium box the next evening, and
IOcSoCNi tH tAtililSiLt UoShSb VI
icas at Geraldine Clc-e's feet when the
moment of ovation came.
Sho stopped herself &c pick it up,
with an arch gratifed smile, and a
slight motion of her head towards the
box; and as she turned away she met
her husbands stern reproachful eye.
Her first impulse was to drop the
basket again, her second to brave it
out.
What have l done?" she asked her
self half Indignantly; and as she went
off the stage she carried the flower
basket in her hand
Jonas Cleve, however, did not make
his appearance as usual in her dressing
room when she was ready to depart,
but, instead, an old one eyed carpen-
ter, who served about the theatre,
stood waiting.
'Where's Mr. Cleve, Griffithp"
''He said l was to see you home,
ma am"
''But where is he?"
"Please, ma'am, don't know"
Geraldine asked no more questions,
but she bit her scarlet lip until the
blood came.
"He is angry about the flower
basket" she thought. ''Well, let him
sulk"
But Jonas was not at home when
she reached their modest lodgings,
and Geraldine was surprised at the
sudden sinking OF her own heart.
He will be home soon," she COM
forted herself by saying.
As she took the basket of japonicas
out of its tissue paper wrappings,
something glittered in the gas light.
1t was diamond ring; fastened to the
handle.
This will never do" said Geral-
dine, half glad that her husband was
not there to see the shining gaud. Il
must send it back tomorrow. Jonas
was right after all. | will receive no
more flowers from Duncan Middle
worth"
And then she sat down, all in her
silvery and tissue robes, to wait pa
tiently for her husbands return.
But he did not come. The clock
struck twelve-one-two-and still no
familiar footsteps sounded on the
stairs.
And then an awful doubt crept into
her mind. She had set his will and
wishes at Defiance! Had he left her
forever?
1t was only during an instant that
she harbored the possibility, but that
one second made her heart as cold as
ice.
And when the next days sun dawned,
lurid and cheerless, and she still sat
alone. covering over the smouldering
fire, she would have given half a life
time to be able to live over the last
evening once more.
why did touch the basket" she
asked herself passionately, "when he
wished me not? Oh. surely | have
deserved this anguish, this terrible
doubt, for panderIng to my own base
vanity. If he would only come back
again, but'
She dared not say to herself, eff he
should never come back"
The day crept by, and she still sat
huddled up in heap, pallid and sick
at heart, with no energy for anything.
She had sent back the diamond ring
promptly, as an insult which she
would not for q moment brook. But,
alasi it was too late now.
For Geraldine was gladly becoming
assured that her own folly had for
feited her husbands love, and she
cared for naught else in life.
The dusk was again gathering sadly
around her, when the door suddenly
opened and tall figure entered.
Gerry! Why, what's the matterpn
.'Jonasw
She sprang into his arms with an
hysterical shrek. The sudden revul-
sion of feeling was too great shock.
Il have torn it all to pieces, Jonas.
| never want to see it again." she
cried.
Torn what to pieces? / don't un-
derstand you. child"
The horriG, odious basket of jap
onicas?"
..Oh, remember now, my darling"
with tender pressure of the hand.
How shall thank you for your re-
g. L